02-04-2025
Lyneham Banks: UK's wonkiest road opens after three-year closure
People living near a road once dubbed Britain's wonkiest say they are excited it is back open - and not at all wonky.A large section of the B4069 at Lyneham Banks, in Wiltshire, was damaged by a landslip during Storm Eunice in years and one month later, at a cost of £5m to Wiltshire Council, it is open again and diversion signs will be taken down over the next few Blacker, who lives in Bradenstoke where diverted lorries had to travel down tiny roads, said it is "going to be seriously positive".
Ms Blacker said the lengthy diversion route meant the school run could take two hours each day."It's been a struggle," she said. "I'm a mum with four children. It's meant a huge amount of time in the car. It's been frustrating, but I'm excited."
Ms Blacker said there was anger when the road first closed, but added this had died down over said people are now in "high spirits" at the opening."It is going to give everybody more time," she added.
John Williams lives in Lyneham and can see the road from his said the diversion meant he had to drive an additional 5,000 miles (8,047km) during the three-year closure."I'm not angry," he said. "I just sort of accepted it really. [It was] just one of those things we had to put up with."Mr Williams said he is impressed by the work, especially with the planting of new hedgerows and trees."They've really worked hard - they've got it done on time."
The project has been described as "challenging" by both the council and the contractor was because the land was moving for a while after the landslip, and meant there had to be a lot of investigation to work out how to repair the road is open once again, Ms Blacker said she will be travelling down it blasting On The Road Again by Willy Nelson.
